A 47-year-old member asked:
Does folliculitis resemble herpes?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Candace Spannanswered
Dermatology 23 years experience
Not exactly.: Folliculitis typically appears like red pus bumps, with each bump forming over a hair follicle. Herpes is typically described as a crop or cluster of vesicles. The vesicles usually have a clear fluid in the center of the bump and are painful or itchy. See your dermatologist for proper diagnosis and management.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Related questions
A 47-year-old member asked:
What are signs of genital herpes vs folliculitis?
A female asked:
Can you get a false positive herpes test if it's by swob? Should you get a blood test to know for a fact? And can folliculitis be mistaken for herpes?
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
False pos very rare: False positive tests for herpes simplex virus (HSV) (culture or PCR) are extremely rare and you probably don't need a blood test. However, a blood tes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Hunter Handsfield commented
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
Provided original answer
FYI, it's very important to know virus type (HSV1 or HSV2) for genital herpes. The two viruses are very different in frequency of outbreaks, asymptomatic shedding of the virus, likelihood of sexual transmission, and need for suppressive treatment with acyclovir or related drugs. All these are much more frequent for HSV2 than HSV1.
Mar 14, 2015
A 40-year-old male asked:
If I had a herpes out break and had a blood test done during that time would it be positive? The result was negative. Can folliculitis be painful with white bumps?
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
For newly acquired HSV, this is possible. Once infected for 3 months, the blood test is positive for life. It does not go back and forth from negative... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Sep 13, 2022
Dr. Hunter Handsfield commented
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
Provided original answer
And yes, folliculitis commonly causes painful white bumps. Also, folliculitis occurs only in hairy areas (e.g. pubic area), but herpes usually does not.
Sep 14, 2022
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A 33-year-old male asked:
White spots on bottom side of penis shift, I believe its folliculitis. Is there soaps or creams I can use that may help? Only been with one sexual partner and theyve only been with me so I dont believe its herpes. Have had these spots for months?
Dr. Donald Colantinoanswered
Internal Medicine 63 years experience
Since these spots, which are usually slighly raised, & are on a hairless area of the penis they could be harmless Fordyce spots occurring from ect... Read More
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Reviewed Feb 16, 2023
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A 23-year-old male asked:
How I can differentiate genital folliculitis from genital herpes?
Dr. Vance Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 36 years experience
Clear fluid: Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicle and there will be small pustules or redness around the hair follicles. Herpes is not just around the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Apr 18, 2016
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